How the Bonner Foundation and Network is aiming to translate A Crucible Moment into practice through the High-Impact Initiative.

1. What A Crucible Moment
Has Inspired...
an aim to spread “best practice as
common practice;” integrate high-impact
learning and high-impact community
engagement; and multiply and deepen
civically engaged learning
Ariane Hoy, Bonner Foundation • ahoy@bonner.org

2. “It is time to bring two national priorities–
career preparation and increased access and
completion rates–together in a more
comprehensive vision with a third national
priority: fostering informed, engaged,
responsible citizens.”
Connect and scale proven strategies for:
• access and success (service-based scholarships)
• promoting Full Participation (diversity/inclusivity)
• multiyear, scaffolded experiences–across the
curriculum and co-curriculum
• intentional engagement that produces Civic-
Minded Professionals and democratic citizens.

3. The Bonner
High-Impact Initiative
Transformation teams of students, faculty, partners, & administrators
who will work over 3+ years on high-impact projects
Allegheny Berea Berry Carson-Newman Davidson
College College College College College
Meadville, PA Berea, KY Rome, GA Jefferson City, TN Davidson, NC
Guilford College Mars Hill College Oberlin College Saint Mary’s College of Siena
Greensboro, NC Mars Hill, NC Oberlin, OH California College
Moraga, CA Loudonville, NY
Sewanee—The University Stetson The College of New Warren Wilson College Washburn University
University Jersey Black Mountain, NC Topeka, KS
of the South
Sewanee, TN DeLand, FL Ewing, NJ
DePauw University, Lynchburg College, Ursinus College, and Wagner University may also join this year.

4. Integrated, Deep, Pervasive, & Developmental
Civic Education and Experiences
Third-year leadership position Capstone level placement
connected to Undergraduate tied to Capstone course
Research assignments in a (INQUIRY, DEPTH)
Service-learning Course, co-
taught by a community partner
(SEQUENCE,
KNOWLEDGE) Public Policy Research on a
social issue integrated within a
full-time Internship course
(LEARNING, INTEGRATION)
Developmental position for a
sophomore in an issue-based team tied
to a Writing intensive Commons
Course and Learning Community
(TEAMS) Diversity and Global
Learning tied to a
Deliberative Democracy
campus-wide forum used to
First Year Seminar tied to spur greater levels of
Place with a meaningful engagement (CAPACITY)
semester-long community
based position (PLACE,
HUMILITY)

5. Allegheny College’s
First Year Projects
Necessary institutional and
“A Crucible Moment and community changes
(rewards, structures)
our involvement with
sharing its findings have The development of a center
been critical for our work for Undergraduate
Research that is connected
to advance civic learning to upper-level courses and
and engagement. At our assignments and Meadville
community needs
first meeting about High- (SEQUENCE, INQUIRY,
Impact Initiative, the IMPACT)
provost brought copies The writing and
to discuss with our team. integration of
community-authored
We have used it to texts (KNOWLEDGE,
motivate our team, HUMILITY)
deepen the discussion on
First and Second Year
campus, and to focus our Seminar Series will be
work.” ~ Dave Roncolato, connected to community
engagement (PLACE,
Director of ACCEL REFLECTION)

6. What is Greasing the Wheels?
Strategic The leadership of a team
visioning,
planning,
evidence-based
practice
A cohort approach
Peer
exchange and
consultation
Dialogue and learning with a national learning community